3 Digital Nomads Living A Life Less Ordinary

Digital Nomads are people who have ditched their desk to pursue a life less ordinary, taking work with them while on the go. Digital Nomads don’t always plan their lifestyle, however — sometimes they see an opportunity and just take the leap.

In this post, we hear from a woman with six grandchildren and 15 grandchildren who visits her family on two continents — all while working online. From a young journalist who didn’t land his dream job, but now travels the world as a successful freelance writer. And from one entrepreneur who sought a challenging career right after college, turning to online work because the positions he found at home in Italy weren’t fulfilling. He now travels the world for his clients.

These are three Digital Nomads who are living inspiring, productive lives, doing what they love wherever they want to be.

Gisela von Brunn

70-year-old grandmother Gisela von Brunn swears she’ll continue working “as long as her fingers and head are working.”

After raising her large family, she found her niche in online freelancing in 2010 to keep her busy in Cochabamba, Bolivia, where she lived until 2013. Location-independent gigs enabled her to tap all of her talents: Gisela speaks six languages fluently (German, English, Spanish, Dutch, French, and Portuguese) and quickly found work in translation and proofreading for international clients.

Gisela (center) surrounded by her 15 grandchildren.

For Gisela, freelancing complements her lifestyle: she enjoys the freedom to visit her six children and 15 grandchildren spread across Europe and South America as well as her many friends, and can work while she’s traveling.

Last year, she moved back to Germany without having to give up a single client (in fact, she gained a few new ones after relocating). “Freelancing gives me a wonderful feeling of freedom, while still being able to earn a livelihood,” she explained.

Michael Fraiman

When 22-year-old journalist Michael Fraiman didn’t land his dream job at the The Chronicle Herald (a prestigious newspaper based in Halifax, Nova Scotia), he decided not to apply to another paper and made a much bigger leap: he moved to South Korea to teach English.

From his base in Busan, Michael hitched inexpensive flights to Southeast Asia and began supplementing his teaching income by writing about the locales he visited.

Ironically, he ended up in the same high-end publications he’d dreamt of a journalism student: The Globe and Mail, BootsnAll, AFAR.com, Busan Haps, Vagabundo (just to name a few).

However, instead of working as a staff reporter, he enjoyed bylines in the travel pages for his freelance articles.

When he left Korea, he decided to “take the long way” back to Toronto, Canada (his hometown). He spent the majority of his savings on a four-month trip around the world, visiting 29 countries across Asia and Europe.

Michael now works as a full-time freelance writer in Toronto while contemplating his next adventure in South America. “Freelancing hasn’t changed what I’m doing, but it has made me realize that I have a lot more time to reach my goals,” he explained.

Michael blogs at A Long Way Back and is releasing an ebook of the same name later this year, which chronicles his travels around the world.

Rocco Baldassarre

Rocco Baldassarre wanted to be challenged professionally and seek adventure right after he graduated from university in Italy — so rather than find a traditional job, he decided that he would work for himself as a search engine marketing specialist.

In just three years, he already has a staff of 15 and frequently travels across Europe and North America to meet with clients. In fact, he’s worked with more than 500 different clients, and has logged hours from ten different countries. Not bad for someone who’s just 25!

Rocco has a few tips for others who are interested in pursuing the Digital Nomad lifestyle like he has:

Keep improving: If you are the best at what you do, companies will keep hiring you.

Have a plan: Don’t just jump into work — have a clear outline of your goals before you take a project or start traveling.

Plan your income in smart way: Work can come and go, especially when you’re just starting out, so budget and spend wisely.

Be available: Clients like it when they can reach you, ask questions, and provide feedback. Have a smartphone and an Internet connection so you can check emails and reply as fast as possible.

Be focused on your work: Don’t let people assume you’re not reliable because you don’t work in an office or from a specific location.

Who do you know who lives an inspiring Digital Nomad life? Tell us about them in the comments below!

Communications Manager

Brennan Gamwell is a Communications Manager at oDesk, where he focuses on managing the customer reference program to share the inspiring stories of the amazing professionals using the platform. Brennan brings with him extensive experience in non-profit and advocacy communications from his time in Washington, DC, and is just slightly obsessed with grammar and punctuation (especially hyphens). He holds a Bachelor's degree in international communications… read more

Dear.
Thank you for your help.
And then I have one problem.
I got hourly job at the last week.
But I can’t do work.
And then his payment method is not verified yet.
When I will work?
I need your help.
Thank you.

please see followimg screen shot.
i did bid but i can not see my bid history.

Hanifur Rahman

Hello,

My Financial transactions have been limited. I don’t understand why? My all information is verified. If you have any fault, please tell me and forgive me. I will not hurry anymore. But please resume my account. I want to continue.

I am very much frustrated with the same answer in different ways. I don’t know whether you are getting my issue or not. And why you are replying me every times about applicant recommendations. I am working in oDesk since last 3 years and never face this type of issue.

If I am applying for any job then my application should shown that I applied for that job either in higher or lower or in hidden tab. But it is not showing anywhere. But when my friend is bidding for the same job and he is new in oDesk and he didn’t do any job his application is showing. Why like this. This is my point that why my application is not showing.

What is wrong with my ID. How to solve this. Please help me and solve this.

I am facing this issue since last 1 month but nobody help me. I have complain many time in Odesk support help desk.

Sabuj Ahmed

I have also the same issue!

Please help me

قطرة ندى

please if u can slove my problem l have problem

Your Job Application quota has been reached

Could u slove for me

Sabuj Ahmed

What are your problem??

craig smikle

i have a real concern i worked for telestart communication and should have been paid for over two months and still have not been paid. Every week is a different story and now i’m furious
Can you please assist me so that i ca get my pay.

Sabuj Ahmed

How I complete my Identity verification?
Please tell me step by step.

Where will I attach my valid government-issued photo ID?
Please tell me as soon as possible.

Sarmin Aktar

Please review my profile & give me job quota

Md kamruzzan

Hi,

I need help.i am apply to the job.but hide my Cover Letter.

please active my account.

Thanks

abdullah

Hi, Can anybody helps me ? my account is suspended for 1years, I have
contacted many times on customer support but they told they can not help
.can anybody tell, what can i do at this situation ?

Nikhil Arfin

what is this meant by this message in odesk

“Hello Md,

I understand how much you would like to keep on working in the oDesk platform.

As a private company, we have the right to determine who can engage on our platform, and at this time our Trust and Safety management team has come to the conclusion that your participation can no longer be supported.

Please be advised that further appeals of this decision may not be responded to as our decision is final.

Sincerely,
Sheila
Freelancer Support Specialist | support.odesk.com”

Sabuj Ahmed

Date- oct 29. I was Withdrawal.

But it is not available in my local funds.

I have already checked my local funds Bank account but it is not available yet.

But why???

Please help me. What should I do??????

Sabuj Ahmed

Date- oct 29. I was Withdrawal.

But it is not available in my local funds.

I have already checked my local funds Bank account but it is not available yet.

But why???

Please help me. What should I do??????

Noor ul Amin

I have also the same issue! have made a withdrawal on the same date (29 Oct) and it didn’t reach to my bank account. Normally it transfers the other day. I have opened a ticket with oDesk support, although I didn’t my issue resolved, however that is the only place to ask the support about this issue.

1. Login to your oDesk account
2. On the top right corner click the question mark “?” and then click “Help and Support”.
3. Finally open a ticket and describe your issue.

Sabuj Ahmed

Thank you very much.

I have an another problem.

I can’t apply for any job. Not in my name in the list of those who have applied. But why? If the application is not my name on the list of people not being able to see my application any Client’s.

Please let me know, What should I do?

I have already opened lot of tickets but they said that this is my account review time and they have nothing to do.

Please let me know, What should I do?

Noor ul Amin

I am sure you would have been got your money. I have got mine, I think there was issue with oDesk since it took much time than expected.

Brother, I am not aware of the 2nd issue you have mentioned.

Are you able to apply to a job and then you don’t see your name in the applicants list?

Do you get any notification from oDesk regarding your application rejection or anything.

If you are able to apply to a job, then you must be included in the applicants list. It is strange.

Sabuj Ahmed

Yes I am able to apply to a job and then I don’t see my name in the applicants list.

They said it’s my account review time. But how day’s long it will?
I don’t know.

Dear, I did not login in my account more than 3 months because my laptop was damaged, this was my problem.
Thanks you to help me

Sabuj Ahmed

Why has your account suspended

Sabuj Ahmed

Are you Bangladeshi? If you are Bangladeshi so please give me your phone number. I want to talk you with phone or give your Skype ID.

anwar

I am facing a problem on my odesk home page. On homepage
new jobs according to my selected categories are not update regularly.
Homepage view always remain same which is settled at 6 days old job
posts.

It updates the jobs only when I have clicked on any particular job category.

Please help me if you understood my problem.

Regards

Anwar Shahzad

Sabuj Ahmed

1. My application quota is 25. But some days still my remaining applications
0. But Why?

2. Not in my name in the list of those who have applied. But why?
If the application is not my name on the list of people not being able to see
my application any Client’s.

I didn’t get any good news ! I am very upset I am professional graphics designer i need long time job to build up my career in odesk please help me any one !

http://uniqueworldtech.com/ Rakesh

My job Application Quota Hidden, anybody Please Help Me

Abdur rahman

I have a problem.When i applied fixed price job then i can see my name between all applicants but when i applied hourly job then i can’t see my name between all applicants..For that reason,i can’t do work on odesk.please check and solve as soon as possible.

oDesk also suspended me account even i was doing good work….
help me what i do ?
regards,
Irfan Masih

Ashit Mandol

I have big problems to my account because I have lost my account password and security question. But how can I get help?

Mashuqur

Hello

oDesk suspend my account what can I do? please help me any one

Enista

I have no quota, it says I should fix my profile I did that my profil is 75% complete, I even finished some of the test that will raise my quota but it is still 0 , please help me I need this really fast

nazma akter

my profile is 100% complete and i am work 110 hour. but some day show my profile 95%. and suggest me add school to 5% +.

But my school is already added
and i am added more time and try more time but it is not completed. it is show 95%,
so,

please solve my problem quickly.

Sabuj Ahmed

Re check your overview. Write more about yourself. Then it will 100%

Mubashra Liaqat

Dear,
oDesk suspend my account permanently i am very worry about
this i spend 2400 hours on odesk in 2 years and now after two years
oDesk suspend my profile please tell me what i can do now ? Any one vote
me and help me to resume my account i am thankfull all of you…..
please review my profile what i can do now, i have a great profile but no able to work on ithttps://www.odesk.com/users/~0…
Regards
Mubashra

Irfan Masih

Dear, same is being with me. oDesk also suspended me account even i was doing good work….
help me what i do ?
regards,
Irfan Masih

Md. Mukter Hossaing

How Can I Upload my National ID Card & Why my job application quotas is 0 ( Nill) But Why?

Over the last 3 years, I have worked on many websites with my brother. I have experience of Seo, back linking, link building, social bookmarking, social networking, link wheel and i want earn more experience. I have to bookmarking, Forum Profile, Article submission, Directory submission, Web 2.0 site lists and all site with PR 0-10. I will complete your task manually. I always follow WHITE HAT & PENGUIN update.

baladesigner

well, I got the good idea as be as freelancer. Here in second para first line i.e., “a woman with six grandchildren and 15 grandchildren”. But It must be “a woman with six children and 15 grandchildren” is correct. Please change it.

Monjjur

I do not have quotas.

Suma

Hi, Can anybody helps me ? my account is suspended for 15 days, I have contacted many times on customer support but they told they can not help .can anybody tell, what can i do at this situation ?

Joseph

No way oDesk can not solve this problem since they know the reason for your account suspension.

Contact them as many times as possible until they open up your account.

charles

Hi Suma, am new to this. please connect with me at Gmail: charles.vimala or Skype: charles.muthiah

Mdsaykat Kobir

I am happy to run stay with digital nomads…Thanks.

kobir_saykat

I want to continue stay with digital nomads.

rajib roy

I am interested to continue stay with digital nomads…Thanks..

jignesh Patel

Can anybody help me,

I am facing this issue since last 15 days but nobody help me. I have complain many time in Odesk support help desk.
Problem is when i am updating my id verification Process its give me server error. I attach screen shot of that error.
Without id verification i can not apply job and cant withdraw my revenue. So please suggest what should i do.

I am a palash facebook log on : palash asha, please give any job of computer, thanks to co-operative

Israt

I’ve completed all stages to submit my passport form and get the police
varification also. The date of submission of my passport was 2nd
September 2014. But in 1st September i’ve got an sms from MRP passport
like that “Delivery of your passport against ************* is deplayed
due to unavoidable circumstances. You will be notified again when your
passport is ready.”
Now my question is how can I confirmed that my
passport is not realy ready for unavoidable situation? Please suggest me
what can I do now.

Guest

please give good solve

haripria

I want to continue stay with digital nomads.

haripria

Hi,
Thanks for your help. Digital nomads very useful for every one.

carl m.

Thanks for these articles. It inspires me to work even more.

Ravichandran J.V.

Informative!

Helps to know that I am a Digital Nomad

http://about.me/vijaysood Vijay Sood

@brennan_gamwell:disqus Thanks for the hat-trick this time. All three stories were interesting to read. Whie @gisela inspires to keep the passion alive, @Michael inspires to never give hope. And, @rocco tips were useful.

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